I’m Rosie. I help freelance designers grow into healthy brands so they can attract better clients. Here’s my story…
I spent years as a stressed out freelance designer relying on referrals until I discovered how to stop overthinking, build a future proof niche, craft a unique marketing message and attract the clients I desired…I now help freelance designers to do the same, so that they can earn more, work less and spend more time doing the things they love.
me & making…
I grew up with my mum on a small holding in a quiet village in Yorkshire, England.
I made bread, mud pies and make believe stories in my mind. I painted, fed chickens, played dress up and watched my thrifty mum knit and sew many of my clothes.
She gave me my kindness, creativity, and a curious mind. Living with my mum was tricky at times, but her influence on my creativity runs deep; creativity is my superpower.
So much of who I am is inspired by her love of textiles, and timeless quality…
me & my career…
At 11 years old I decided I wanted to be a fashion designer.
So that’s what I did.
It was the acid house 80’s; manufacturing, music and retail were changing fast. Adaptability was key. I arrived at my first job to find myself working alongside graphic designers, and to my surprise I was hired not only as an apparel designer, but to create graphics for fashion as well. This shaped my whole career; graphics, typography and surface pattern became a passion that went on to support my varied career and curious creative mind.
My life mission was to gain as much experience as I could about making things…and one day work for myself. I spent 10 years working with factories and suppliers in the North of England, understanding exactly how a product was made, from concept, costing, cloth and onto the customer.
The highlight of my career was coaching graduates in my role as design manager, and it makes me feel happy that those grads are now established freelancers, friends and past clients of mine to this day…
KIND WORDS
“Rosie gave me my first in-sight into the world of design. Her vast knowledge of the industry and her meticulous approach to design gave me the best start in such a competitive industry. I continue to seek Rosie’s professional advice and hold her opinion in high regard.”
— BECKY, FOUNDER OF KIN PRINT
a twist of fate…
I went freelance in 2005 after being made redundant for the fourth time and whilst carrying my second child. It was a happy twist of fate, my dream of working for myself made real.
As a freelancer I designed for some of the world's biggest retail brands whilst rocking my little girl to sleep, and like a fly on the wall I began to notice how the fashion design and retail industry, largely made up of women, did not support women…
I saw designers get ripped to bits, left in tears and then asked to show up and do it all again the next day. I saw zero workplace well-being and zero flexibility.
As a design consultant for over 15 years I unknowingly became a mentor and coach to designers, buyers and product developers.
KIND WORDS
“You have been a huge source of help and encouragement over the years. I remember when I first met you thinking “she’s a tough nut”, but I couldn’t have been more wrong really. You are so kind and thoughtful and you have really inspired me to succeed.”
— ELISE | @ELISEBUTTONBOX
ten years in…
The beautiful house, a successful career, two loving children and a second home in the sun…
But something was wrong.
I was working increasingly long hours but getting less done each day. I was busy caring for worldwide clients, kids and my creative life but not my number one business asset.
Overwhelm, anxiety and a growing lack of confidence crept in. One night I woke up at 3am unable to move. My back has seized up; the pain was as close to childbirth I had experienced. I was out of action. I’d hit a brick wall.
Something had to change.
I’d also hit my mid forties and unbeknown to me also hit burnout...peri-menopause...midlife crisis…or was it just a natural way of my body saying enough is enough?
KIND WORDS
“You've help me create clarity that I've failed to initiate for months. And I'm usually self-motivated and good at creating vision. But a few months of terrible clients and being in lockdown for so long have made me very short-sighted. Thank you for shining light on areas that I need to focus on.”
— MABLE TAN, MABLE TAN DESIGNS
deep in thought…
I made the decision to get serious about building a sustainable lifestyle business. I signed up for government business support but they had no clue about creativity. I hired business coaches but they didn’t understand the complexity of fashion and retail and couldn’t help me get unstuck; they couldn’t get me out of my overthinking midlife negative thoughts.
I continued searching…I bought online creative courses to help me ‘find my own style’. I created an Instagram account, I built a website and researched trade shows to promote my new surface pattern design business.
Out of the blue I was offered an opportunity I’d never considered before…“you are seen as an expert in your field, would you consider mentoring?” I quickly fell into helping creatives and it made my heart lift.
One day sat at my desk, having just signed a project for my highest ever paid work as a freelance designer I came to a worrying realisation. I ought to have been delighted, but my heart sank. I’d fallen out of love with my creative business. I felt terrified…
My childhood dream was over. So was my marriage. My darkest days led me to therapy, strength training, spirituality, and a Soul Plan reading that changed the course of my life…
a new mission…
In 2020 I signed up to the Courageous Living Coaching Certification, an ICF accredited training programme led by Kate Swaboda, author of The Courage Habit. Immediately after gaining my certification I began coaching creative women in business.
I now had my second life mission; to become the coach I couldn’t find…
I coached music therapists, writers, podcasters, surface pattern designers, artists, freelance designers and small makers. I continued to hone my craft whilst building my coaching business.
But it wasn’t growing fast enough. I was largely relying on referrals, just as I had done before burning out. I needed to take action.
At the time I was terrified of investing so much money into high end business coaching and a marketing diploma. But I’m so glad I did, because it was the best investment I have ever made.
creativity & overthinking…
What I noticed through my work was a pattern. My clients were insanely skilled creatives, yet the combination of their natural caring feminine essence, a natural overthinking creative mind, and changes to their midlife brain was stopping them achieve their goals. This was leading to stress, overwhelm, imposter syndrome and anxiety. They were overthinking everything, looking after everyone around them, but not themselves or their business.
They were brushing off being a woman, a mum in business, and the natural changes of peri-menopause and instead persevering with ‘being busy’ instead of creating a sustainable business that supports their wellbeing.
Even after years of experience designing for world leading brands, they were lost in negative thinking, ready to give everything up, because they didn’t know how to stop overthinking, get shit done and attract creatively fulfilling clients and the work they desired.
Using my own personal experience of healing I introduced science backed mental fitness techniques and ancient feminine energy teachings to my coaching practice. My coaching, mentoring and teaching methodology now creates a holistic coaching experience for creative entrepreneurs in an ever changing retail landscape, transforming business, productivity, wellbeing and relationships.
what my clients are saying
“It has honestly been life changing for me. Being able to identify and understand how and why my mind works and why I think the way I do has been a light bulb moment. It’s the best money I have spent on myself ever! It's an investment not only for myself but for my family and my work life.”
— LUCY J, FREELANCE DESIGNER
TIME TO MAKE A CHANGE